Auto glide power top system

ABSTRACT

A container having a lid and storage portions connected about a self opening, spring actuated hinge is provided with at its front with a push button actuated latch so that one handed opening is possible.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to compact cases which carry a variety of goods incorporating a one handed operation to both open and close the case without spilling the contents from over exertion while opening the case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been the common practice to use compact cases in which to carry a variety of goods. These compact cases vary in size and shape and offer many different degrees of service. Previously, these compact cases were opened and closed manually. That is, one person would be required to use both hands in order to both open and close the case. With certain compact cases it has been found that a substantial amount of force is required in order to get the case open. In such circumstances the contents of the compact case may be accidentally spilled. Furthermore, current compact cases allow only those people who have both hands functioning properly and possess excellent fine motor skills to open and close the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a compact case which can be opened and closed with the use of only one hand so as to minimize the chance for spillage of the contents of the case while opening the case.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a case which consists of a top and bottom portion. The top portion includes a square surface with walls extending downward on each side. The bottom portion includes a square surface with walls extending upward on each side wherein the walls of the bottom portion mate with the walls of the top portion. The bottom portion includes two posts on the rear wall with a recess in one post and a larger recess with a groove in the other post. On the front end of the bottom portion there consists a push button attached to a latch in order to both securely close and initiate opening of the case. The latch secures the case when closed and the push button releases the latch so as to initiate the case opening. The top portion is shaped such that on the rear wall there is provided a peg in one corner and a self-actuating hinge inside a hollow tube on the other corner. Both the self-actuating hinge and the peg are inserted into the two corresponding recesses on the posts of the bottom portion. On the front wall of the top portion there is a recess in which to hold the latch from the bottom portion in order to keep the case closed.

The self-actuating hinge includes a spring, a viscous lubricant and a screw. The spring is attached securely inside the hollow tube of the top portion. The screw is grooved on both ends; one end is grooved to be attached to the spring and the other end is grooved to mate to the groove of the larger recess of the post in the bottom portion. The screw is then coated in a viscous lubricant on the spring end of the screw and inserted into the hollow tube and attached to the spring. The viscosity of the lubricant is used to alleviate any damage to the screw while in use and maintains the speed at which the case automatically opens.

While the case is opened, the spring is in its rest state and the screw is secured to both the spring of the top portion and the groove of the larger recess of the bottom portion. When closing the case the screw remains stationary and the spring, being attached to both the top portion and the screw, becomes twisted or wound-up gaining enough force to automatically urge the top portion to move to an open position once the push button is pushed. When the case is closed and the push button is pushed, the latch is then released and the spring is able to unwind itself and in so doing causes the top portion to be pushed away from the bottom portion.

It would only require one hand in order to open and close the case since there consists a push button in order to open the case and the user need only push down in order to close the case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the compact case when open;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the rear end of the top portion;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the compact case 2 consists of a top portion 10 and bottom portion 20 wherein a push button 15 is located on the bottom portion.

The bottom portion 20 includes two posts on the rear wall, post 4 includes a small recess 8 to mate with peg 12 of the top portion and post 5 includes a larger recess 9 with a groove made to mate with screw 13 of the self-actuating hinge. On the front end of the bottom portion there consists a push button 15 attached to a latch 11 in order to both securely close and initiate opening of the case. The latch 11 secures the case when closed and the push button 15 releases the latch 11 so as to initiate the case 2 to open.

With reference to FIG. 2, the top portion 10 is shaped such that on the rear wall there is a peg 12 in one corner and a self-actuating hinge 13 inside a hollow tube 16 on the other corner. Both the peg 12 and the screw 13 of the self-actuating hinge are inserted into the two corresponding recesses 8 and 9 of the bottom portion. On the front end of the top portion 10 there is a recess 7 in which to hold latch 11 from the bottom portion 20 as shown in FIG. 1.

The top portion 10 includes a hollow tube 16. A spring 18 is secured to both the hollow tube of the top portion 10 and the screw 13. The screw 13 is grooved on both ends; one end is grooved to be attached to the spring 18 and the other end is grooved to mate to the groove of the larger recess 9 of post 5 of the bottom portion 20. The screw 13 is then coated in a viscous lubricant on the spring end of the screw 13 and inserted into the hollow tube 16 and attached to the spring 18. The viscosity of the lubricant is used to alleviate any damage to the screw while in use and maintains the speed at which the case automatically opens.

While the case 2 is in an opened position, the spring 18 is in its rest state and the screw 13 is secured to both the spring 18 of the top portion 10 and the groove 9 of the larger recess of the bottom portion 20. When closing the case 2 the screw 13 remains stationary and the spring 18, being attached to both the top portion 10 and the screw 13, becomes twisted or wound-up gaining enough force to automatically urge the top portion 10 to move to an open position once the push button 15 is pushed. When the case 2 is closed and the push button 15 is pushed, the latch 11 is then released and the spring 18 is able to unwind itself and in so doing causes the top portion 10 to be pushed away from the bottom portion 20. 

1. A container having a lid portion and a storage portion each having a rear wall and a front end, said rear wall including a hinge arrangement about which the lid and storage portions are relatively movable, said portions having a latch arrangement on said front end to lock the lid and storage portions in a closed condition, said hinge arrangement including a housing adjacent said rear wall and a coil spring mounted in said housing so as to constantly urge said lid portion and said storage portions apart about said hinge arrangement, said latch arrangement including a push button attached to a latch member so that, when actuated by a user, the lid portion and storage portion move about said hinge member toward an open condition.
 2. The container a claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is a hollow tube in which said coil spring is disposed, a screw being mounted to extend into said tube and having one end to which an end of said coil spring is attached, said storage portion includes to spaced apart posts and said screw being attached to one of said posts.
 3. The container as claimed in claim 2 wherein a viscous fluid is carried in said tube.
 4. The container as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fluid is a lubricant. 